Free Community College

Providing “free college” programs is growing in popularity as more states seek to implement their own versions. But what can assure skeptics that these programs are as politically sustainable as they are politically popular?
Jen Mishory of The Century Foundation examines the fiscal sustainability of these plans. Looking at six free college programs that existed during the Great Recession, Mishory shows how they retained their financial and political support even as states were cutting other aid programs and education spending.

Policymakers looking at free or debt free college plans must also ensure their proposals are not overly restrictive or based on inaccurate assumptions about students. Sara Garcia at the Center for American Progress lays out the four key principles that these free community college programs should consider as more states seek to increase college access.